We used to shove potatoes into tailpipes. If the exhaust system is well-sealed the engine won't start. If it isn't well-sealed, it sure makes a whistle. Heck of a potato gun sometimes, too!
Dirty old tricks:
On the old point-type distributor caps, we used to wet a cigarette filter and stick in in the cap between the coil wire. As long as the filter is wet, the car will run. It usually results in a head-scratcher ... so we never pulled it on someone who knew NOTHING about cars.
Also used to run a little speaker wire from one cylinder on those caps through the firewall, under the floor mat, and up into the bottom of the seat. Splay that wire out so that it covered a 3-4" section of the seat. The guy cranks the engine and gets a little jolt (usually his finger on the ignition key at first, and then a tingle in the butt when he jumps off the key. (I wouldn't want to try this with HEI systems.)
As a "junior partsman" (30 yrs ago) at a Ford garage, I was intitiated by the technicians. One of them came to the counter, and wanted me to come out and look at something under the hood. I was a little suspicious when a group of them formed around behind me. The next thing I knew I was dangling from the engine crane by my belt loops with hands and feet flailing. Sang soprano for a while after that. :mwink:
Also had vaseline applied to the phone reciever once by that same crew.
"Crew" being a euphamism, LOL. Actually were a great bunch of guys to work with. A lot of them would stick around on "shop night", and were very quick to lend a hand, a tool, or both. Much work was paid for with liquid refreshments or favors in kind.
And yup, more than one "loaded" condensor was tossed my way, too. Never fell for that one though ... had heard all about it by 1979.
Cripes, could you imagine trying to pull stuff like that these days?
People would sue your hiney off.
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